Serious Conflagration.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5286, 29 December 1885, Page 2

Serious Conflagration.

[Pee Pbess Association.J

Wellington, This day,

The most disastrous fire which has occurred here since the Opera House fire broke out this morning; the alarm was given about 7-45, when Mr Myer9*, pic-ture-frame maker's, shop ou Lsmbton quay was found on fire. The origin of the conflagration is unknown; The fire brigade were soon on the spot, but appeared unable to eopa with the task before them, as a consequence the fire spread rapidly to Smart's oyster saloon, and Mrs Nelson's fruit shop, op either side, which were soon levelled to the ground. The flames were still gaining on the brigade, and Aldou's tobacconist shop, (Spiljer's music shop, Farmer's large fur* nitufe warehouse, the Wellington Meat Company's butcher shop, and Mrs Paul's milliner's, shop, were completely destroyed. Tbe tire also destroyed, the

■tables of the Meat Company, and then extended to some cottages in a small lane running off Woodward street, and all these were destroyed, but the occupant! are not yet known. Hayes' plumber's shop, Arrowsmith, fruiter, and the Branch Hotel had very narrow escapes. Sparks were carried long distances away, and the Occidental Hotel, Dr Henry's house, and the Central Club were on fire at one time, but were saved with some difficulty. Lateb. i The following are the insurances as far as can be ascertained:—Farmer's shop, £1000 in the South' British, re-insured £500 in Hanseatic, £150 in Standard; Aldou's, Smart's, and Nelson's shops, £300 in the South British, re-insured

£75 in Hanseatic ; £500 in London, Liver*

pool, and Globe ; Paul's shop, £250 in the Norwich Union, and £240 in the Victoria ; Neilson, £150 in the Standard, and £250 in the Victoria; Farmer, £250 in the Victoria; Neilson and Myers, £200 in the Colonial; Branch Hotel, £500 on stock (about £50 damage) in the Colonial; Spillsr's shop, £200 in the Colonial; Hayes (slight damage to stock), £500 in the Colonial, £300 in the Standard, and £500 in the Liverpool, London, and Globe. Thomas' produce store, some dis tance away, took fire from the sparks, and 50 or 60 bags of grain were destroyed. He was insured in the Standard for £400. The National Insurance Co. have a line of about £1500, but it is not known how it is divided.

Latest.

Four cottages, known as James' cottages, occupied by W. Bryant and family, Neill and family, (occupants of the other two being unknown), and Hayes, pattern and coppersmiths' shops were also burnt in the fire this morning. Several buildings at aome considerable distance away were also discovered on fire but were extinguished before they were much damaged. Hayes estimates his loss at £1000 over the insurances. Messrs Paul and Neilson's shops were owned by Mrs Kane ; Myres, Smarts, and Aldons' by the trustees of the late Dr Evans. Farmers' shop and cottages were owned by the Hon. Wi Taka, and sublet to W. Jones. The amount of property destroyed is estimated at over twelve thousand pounds, or £7000 above the insurance. The fire this morning took place on the same 6pot|as the great fire in May. 1868, on which occasion the same block was swept by fire. The following are further insurances :—Farmer: United £500, Royal £500, Union £500, National £400; workshop, Equitable £100, South British £200; total on Farmer's, £3450. Myers: Colonial £400; workshop, Northern £300. Aldons: South British £300, National £375. Smart: London and Liverpool £500; four cottages, Equitable £400; Spiller, £100 in the National. The total insurance on the buildings destroyed is £7000.